Essential Decorating Tips for Moving in with Your Partner

Essential Decorating Tips for Moving in with Your Partner

Guest Blogger: Sandra Moncada

Moving in with your partner is a monumental milestone in your relationship and it understandably requires considerable adjustments for both of you. As soon as his or her belongings start arriving at your dream home, you may realize you have an issue. Here’s how to prepare for the big step:

Your Home Is a Personal Statement

Your partner may have a completely opposite taste to yours. When you live apart, this is most pronounced in clothes, jewelry, and accessories. However, style often flows through into home décor. For example, your partner’s taste in décor and design could be heavily influenced by a contemporary theme, which may clash with your bohemian style.

As you prepare to move in together, keep in mind that both of you need to be happy and comfortable living in the space. Therefore, the space should fit your taste as much as it fits your partner’s. It should reflect who you are as a couple and the life you want to live.

It’s a Home for Two

Whether single or a couple, your home represents your tastes and preferences. Some people may initially be agreeable to simply make do with the partner’s decorative idea for the sake of getting settled into the space. However, this can cause stress and unhappiness in the months and years to come.

It is best to talk about home décor and compromises before you both move in. However, if you have failed to do this, do not let more time slip by or make agreements to something that you cannot live with in the long run.

Communicate Openly

Communication is critical for any healthy relationship and it is vital when you are moving in together. The last thing you want is to get rid of items you truly want to hang onto or to buy (expensive) pieces with which you are actually not happy.

You both need to be comfortable with the outcome. Just as you do not want to wear clothes that do not represent who you are, you cannot be able to relax in a home that is not representative of you. The style should represent both of you together rather than you or your partner individually. Go shopping together, voice your thoughts and (try to) enjoy the process.

Do Some Research

Decorating may come more naturally to one partner than the other, but this does not mean that decisions should be made primarily by one person. Research different ideas online. Discuss what you like and dislike about various pictures you see. Make separate lists independently and review them together. Pay attention to the areas that you have in common. You may be surprised to see how much you actually can agree on.

On the other hand, if you find that you seemingly have no middle ground, consider hiring an expert to assist you in finding a style that you both can agree on. A third party will have the objective insight as well as experience to draw from.

Compromise

You’ve likely had plenty of issues arise that require you to compromise in different ways. When you move in together, compromise will become even more critical. You must find a way to adjust to each other’s living habits, schedules, and needs.

Men are often focused on the functional aspect of things while women are more concerned about the aesthetics. These two opposing views can create a home that is both functional and stylish. For example, one partner can choose the sofa while the other chooses decorative pieces or the color.

Neutral colored walls are a great starting point. You can then agree on an accent color to bring into the room through accessories, such as floral vases that bring life into the room, candles whose look and scent give off a relaxing spa vibe and works of art and family photos that give the home a personal feel.

Throw Away and Give Away

Moving in together often means that you need to decide which items to keep and which to toss away. Consider the style and condition of the item as well as its sentimental value.

Consider selling valuable items and donate gently used ones to charity or give them to friends or family members in need. If you insist on getting rid of an item and the other person refuses, seek out the reason for the strong connection to the item. Some situations require you to be firm, but others require you to be empathetic.

Moving is always a stressful event, but moving in together requires you to get used to another person in your space and more importantly to accommodate their style and belongings in your space. While it can take time, effort and plenty of communication and compromise, you can work through these challenges to create a happy, beautiful home for the two of you.

Guest Blogger

Sandra Moncada is a cycling enthusiast, who frequently escapes to hang out with her literary and movie heroes. She is vitamin D’s biggest fan, who is passionate about meditation, Pilates and beating stress. When she’s not floating in the ocean or her outdoor pool, she loves to write about lifestyle improvements, self-development and stress-relief methods. You can connect with her @SandramoncadaOh.

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